Based on a story by Fyodor Dostoyevsky, The Perfect Husband is a suspenseful hybrid of tense psychological drama and period love triangle. Set in Prague in 1900, this emotionally inhibited roller coaster revolves around th... more &raquoree friends who met at a spa seven years ago. Gifted musician Milan (Tim Roth) is an unabashed womanizer who wins over even the most difficult-to-conquer women and whose propensity for seduction has led to 29 duels and counting with their affronted husbands. Wealthy spa manager Franz (Peter Firth) is much harder to read. His always proper, button-down demeanor cloaks a surprisingly tumultuous, fiery inner nature--when a stranger on a train, reminding him that smoking is not allowed, takes his pipe and throws it out the window, he calmly throws her dog out the window, reminding her that animals are not allowed. Franz's wife, Therese (Ana Belén), becomes the third point on the triangle. The story begins when Franz appears unexpectedly at Milan's home. The action bounces between flashbacks that gradually reveal Milan's feverish affair with Franz's wife and Franz's current psychological manipulations that will reveal whether or not he knew about the affair and who his mysterious travel companion is. An enthralling period drama with an underlying air of mystery and psychological tension, The Perfect Husband is an erudite antidote to too much mindless television. The DVD also includes a scene index. --Tara Chace&laquo less

Movie Reviews

A satisfying period tale of intrigue

Donald E. Brynelsen | 06/10/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Having just viewed this film, I must say it makes for a pleasent evening's viewing. Revolving around two freinds Milian (Tim Roth), a gifted pianist and notorious womanizer, and Franz (Peter Firth), the manager of a luxery spa, who meet again after seven years. Set in 1900, the story opens with Milan having been challanged to a duel after he attempts to seduce the wife of a Military Officer. Milan wins the duel, his 29th by shooting the officer in the behind. Meanwhile we first see Franz aboard a train with a little girl where he throws a dog off after it's owner throws his pipe out the window. The meeting of the two invokes memories in Milan of a long ago summer and fall when he first met Franz at a spa and the two quickly become freinds. Milan also falls for Franz's lovely wife Therese (Ana Belen), but she at first repulses his advances. A three way freindship soon develops however, much like that in Truffauts Jules and Jim, culminateing in the trio having a fully clothed swim party in the spa's pool. After this point, Therese and Milan's illicit affair heats up behind Franz's back and we see it unfold in the flashbacks that are interspersed with the main action. Although Franz makes no outward sign, Milan begins to suspect the other man knows about the affair and has waited seven years to seek revenge. But neither he or the viewer are really sure about this, or if the little girl is the product of the long ago affair until the films final moments. If you like period dramas that carry you along with the story, then A PERFECT HUSBAND is a must for your film library."